Harpsichord plucking mechanism



Sept. 5, 1967 KORQ T 3,339,442

HARPSI CHORD PLUCKING MECHANI SM Filed Sept. 27, 1966 United States Patent 3,339,442 HARPSICHORD PLUCKING MECHANISM Stephen Korbet, 3 Adelaide Terrace, Jamaica Plain, Mass. 02130 Filed Sept. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 582,340 Claims. (Cl. 84258) This invention relates to a harpsichord plucking mechanism, and in particular to a harpsichord jack of novel design.

A harpsichord is distinguishable from a piano by the fact that operation of a harpsichord key causes a string or strings to be plucked in contrast with the piano wherein the key causes a hammer to strike the string or strings. However, harpsichord plucking mechanisms that have hitherto been described are difi'icult and costly to construct and further, often need constant repair or adjustment. 1

One object of this invention is to provide a novel harpsichord jack which is inexpensive to construct and troublefree in operation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow taken together with the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view with partial sectioning and cutaway showing a harpsichord jack of this invention in conjunction with a string and key.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the jack with a portion removed to expose the tongue.

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the jack with the plectra removed.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the jack, the plectra being on the front side.

The invention comprises broadly a harpsichord jack formed from a one-piece body having a front-to-rear aperture and a tongue. The tongue has a thinned resilient base portion extending upward from the rear of the bottom wall of the aperture and is moveable in the aperture. The forward upper portion of the tongue has means for engaging a plectra. It is an important aspect of this invention that the tongue is itself part of the one-piece body, generally fashioned from plastic such as nylon or Delrin.

Referring now to the drawings, the key 11, having damper felt 11a causes the end pin 21 to rise when it is depressed, by conventional mechanisms which are not illustrated. Elevating of the end pin 21 causes the jack to actuate. The jack 10 has a central front-to-rear aperture 33. A tongue 23 with a thinned resilient base portion 22 extends upwardly from the rear of the bottom wall of the aperture, has a top cam or bevelled surface 24, and openings 25 and 26 in its upper portion for engaging a plectra such as plastic plectra 16. A screw 17 extends vertically through the upper portion of the jack 10 into the aperture 33 so as to be engageable and hence regulate the rest position of the tongue 23 by engaging the top surface 24. The jack is also provided with damp- 3,339,442 Patented Sept. 5, 1967 ing material 18 held against the jack in a slot formed by a projection 19.

The height of the jack is regulated by means of the threaded portion 21a on the end pin 21. Positioning of the jack is done by means of a conventional register 13 having a vertical orifice 13a provided with an enlarged central section 1312 to permit motion of the tongue. There is also a conventional lower guide 12 having an orifice 12a through which the end pin 21 is moveable.

As the jack rises the plectra 16 plucks the string 14, but when the jack 10 is lowered the resilient character of the base section 22 causes the tongue 23 and hence plectra 16 to return to its rest position against screw 17.

In the drawings the plectra 16 which engages orifice 25 in the tongue is made of a plastic such as nylon or Delrin. The orifice 26 is to accommodate a conventional leather plectra. Although the jack is shown with detachable or replaceable plectras, it is within the scope of this invention, although less preferable, to incorporate the plectra as an integral part of the tongue.

The jack body 10 of this invention is preferably made from a single piece of plastic, such as nylon, so that the tongue 23 and arm 19 are also integral portions thereof.

I claim:

1. A harpsichord jack comprising a one-piece body having a front-to-rear aperture and a tongue; said tongue being part of the body and having a thinned resilient base portion extending upwardly from the rear of bottom wall of the aperture; said tongue being moveable in said aperture and having means in its forward upward portion for engaging with a plectra.

2. The harpsichord jack of claim 1 wherein an upper damper slot is provided.

3. The harpsichord jack of claim 1 wherein a stop is provided to prevent the tongue from moving out of the front side of the aperture, 'but permitting free movement out the rear side of the aperture.

4. The harpsichord jack of claim 3 wherein said stop is a separate adjustable member extending through the top of said body into the top of said aperture to engage the tongue.

5. The harpsichord jack of claim 3 wherein the upper surface of said tongue is bevelled to permit engagement with said stop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,293,974 12/1966 Schutze 84258 FOREIGN PATENTS 682,858 11/1952 Great Britain. 936,819 9/ 1963 Great Britain.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. C. M. OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HARPSICHORD JACK COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE BODY HAVING A FRONT-TO-REAR APERTURE AND A TONGUE; SAID TONGUE BEING PART OF THE BODY AND HAVING A THINNED RESILIENT BASE PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE REAR OF BOTTOM WALL OF THE APERTURE; SAID TONGUE BEING MOVEABLE IN SAID APERTURE AND HAVING MEANS IN ITS FORWARD UPWARD PORTION FOR ENGAGING WITH A PLECTRA. 